By Jeff Brumley Water, it seems, is all the rage. Experts say the demand for global mission projects focused on providing clean water has become unquenchable as churches increasingly see water as one of the most efficient means of meeting…
Healthy church, preacher produce rare gift: pastoral longevity
By Jeff Brumley Jack Glasgow has seen things at Zebulon Baptist Church that fewer and fewer modern pastors have seen — or likely ever will see. Things like shepherding members of his North Carolina congregation from birth to ministry, and others from…
Simple living needn’t be radical in order to be transformative
By Jeff Brumley The lifestyle of simple living may appear intimidating to those who have only read about it or know someone who practices that spiritual discipline. Does it mean having to wear hemp clothing to church, digging a well…
Moderate Baptists to see second pastoral residency program
By Jeff Brumley Nothing John Jay Alvaro learned in divinity school prepared him for the “weird social dynamics” that goes with leading a church. Biblical languages, hermeneutics and even the occasional preaching class provided no guidance in how to manage…
Baptist pastor: ‘Noah’ film may be way to engage unchurched
By Jeff Brumley The new film Noah has yet to hit big screens nationwide, but that hasn’t kept some critics – namely conservative Christian and Muslim ones – from blasting the film for deviating from the strict scriptural text that…
Virginia church may look Anglican, but it’s fully Baptist
By Jeff Brumley Sunday mornings at All Souls Charlottesville are fairly common for an Anglican congregation. The Book of Common Prayer and the Revised Common Lectionary are standard, creeds are spoken together, the Eucharist is the central focus of the liturgy…
Contemplative practices gaining with youth, young adults
By Jeff Brumley Some contemplative spiritual practices may be as old as Christianity itself, but they are increasingly attracting younger generations hungry for alternatives to contemporary, flashy worship. Case in point: portions of an international Taizé pilgrimage hosted by First…
Mission trip reflects growing shift as participants experience ‘transformation’
By Jeff Brumley It’s usually called a mission trip when a group of college students and their campus minister visit a ministry located in a struggling out-of-state neighborhood. But that’s not what a group of Clemson University undergrads and their…
Churches respond to call for disaster relief in Augusta, Ga.
By Jeff Brumley Andy Jones says he has just one answer for church groups still looking for that quick spring or early summer mission: come to Augusta, Ga. As the minister of missions at First Baptist Church there, Jones has…